BP 6152 — Class Assignment

Section: 6000 - Instruction
Status: Active

Adopted: 2016-05-10

Revised: 2022-06-02

Policy text

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

The Governing Board believes students should be assigned to classes and/or grouped in a manner that provides the most effective learning environment for all students.

When assigning students to specific courses and classes, the principal or designee may consider the following criteria as appropriate for the grade level and course:

Staff recommendation, including, but not limited to, the recommendations of teachers and counselors
Student skill level as indicated by multiple objective academic measures, such as student assessment results, grade point average, and grades in prerequisite courses
Balance of high, medium, and low academic achievers
Student interests, readiness, behavior, and motivation
Student/teacher ratios and, if relevant, class size reduction considerations

The principal or designee may accept from parents/guardians any information which could be helpful in making placement decisions. However, a parent/guardian who provides such information shall be informed that a request for a specific teacher will not be considered as criteria for determining their child’s placement.

During the school year, the principal or designee may make any adjustments in class placement which they consider beneficial to the student or the educational program.

Additional Requirements for Grades 9-12

Except for a student enrolled in an alternative school, community day school, continuation high school, or opportunity school, or as otherwise specified below, no student enrolled in grades 9-12 shall be assigned:

To any course without educational content for more than one week in any semester, including any of the following situations:
1. The student is sent home or released from campus before the conclusion of the designated school day.
2. The student is assigned to a service, instructional work experience, or other courses in which he/she is assigned to assist a certificated employee, but is not expected to complete curricular assignments, in a course the certificated employee is teaching during that period and where the ratio of certificated employees to students assigned to the course for curricular purposes is less than one to one.
3. The student is not assigned to any course for the relevant course period.
To a course that the student has previously completed and received a grade determined by the District to be sufficient to satisfy minimum high school graduation requirements and the requirements and prerequisites for admission to California public postsecondary institutions unless the course has been designed to be taken more than once because students are exposed to a new curriculum year to year and are therefore expected to derive educational value from taking the course again.

An exception to item #1 or #2 above may be made on a limited basis only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

The student, or the student’s parent/guardian if the student is younger than age 18 years, has consented in writing to the assignment.
A school official has determined that the student will benefit from being assigned to the course period.
The principal or assistant principal has stated in a written document maintained at the school that, for the relevant school year, no students are assigned to those classes unless the school has obtained the student’s or parent/guardian’s consent and determined that the student will benefit from the assignment.

In addition, under no circumstances shall a student be assigned to a course period without educational content or a course the student has already satisfactorily completed because there are insufficient curricular course offerings for the student to take during the relevant period of the school day.

The above limitations on class assignments shall not affect the authority of the Superintendent or designee to permit the enrollment of a student in a dual enrollment, independent study, evening high school program, or other class or course authorized by law.

Placement in Mathematics Courses

The Governing Board believes that a sound educational program must include the study of subjects that prepare students for admission to higher education and/or a fulfilling career. To the extent possible, District students shall be provided an opportunity to complete a sequence of mathematics courses recommended for admission into the University of California and California State University systems.

The Superintendent or designee shall work with District teachers, counselors, and administrators and the representatives of feeder schools to develop consistent protocols for placing students in mathematics courses offered at the District high school.

Such placement protocols shall systematically take into consideration multiple objective academic measures that may include, but are not limited to, interim and summative assessments, placement tests that are aligned to state-adopted content standards in mathematics, classroom assignment and grades, and report cards.

Students shall be enrolled in mathematics courses based on the placement protocols. No student shall repeat a mathematics course which the student has successfully completed based on the District’s placement protocols.

The placement protocols shall specify a time within the first month of the school year when students shall be reevaluated to ensure that they are appropriately placed in mathematics courses and shall specify the criteria the District will use to make this determination. Any student found to be misplaced shall be promptly placed in the appropriate mathematics course.

Within 10 school days of an initial placement decision or a placement decision upon reevaluation, a student and their parent/guardian who disagree with the placement of the student may appeal the decision to the Principal or designee. The Principal or designee shall decide whether or not to overrule the placement determination within 10 school days of receiving the appeal.

If the Principal or designee does not change the placement decision and student and their parent/guardian still wish to appeal, they may do so in writing to the Superintendent or designee, within 10 days of receiving the Principal’s decision. The Superintendent or designee shall decide whether or not to overrule the placement determination within 10 school days of receiving the appeal. The decision of the Superintendent or designee shall be final.

District staff shall implement the placement protocols uniformly and without regard to students’ race, sex, gender, nationality, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or other subjective or discriminatory consideration in making placement decisions.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all teachers, counselors, and other District staff responsible for determining students’ placement in mathematics courses receive training on the placement protocols.

Prior to the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate the District’s commitment to providing students with the opportunity to complete mathematics courses recommended for college admission, including approved placement protocols and the appeal process, to parents/guardians, students, teachers, school counselors, and administrators.

This policy and the District’s mathematics placement protocols shall be posted on the District’s website. Annually, the Board and the Superintendent or designee shall review student data related to placement and advancement in the mathematics courses offered at the District high school to ensure that students who are qualified to progress in mathematics courses based on their performance on objective academic measures are not held back in a disproportionate manner on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background. The Board and Superintendent shall also consider appropriate recommendations for removing any identified barriers to students’ access to mathematics courses.

Any complaint that the District has not complied with the requirements in this section regarding assignments in grades 9-12 may be filed in accordance with the District’s procedures in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. A complainant not satisfied with the District’s decision may appeal the decision to the California Department of Education (CDE). If the District or the CDE finds merit in an appeal, the District shall provide a remedy to the affected student.